Diabetes education crucial for disease control

Diabetes is a growing epidemic that the Lee Diabetes Center is working to prevent and control for those patients whose lives depend on it in Bonita Springs.

The Bonita Community Health Center is the staging area for the three-day educational program next week about diabetes medications, exercise plans, possible complications and training on blood glucose meters.

“We are here to provide education for people who have diabetes and sometimes some people have pre-diabetes but it's about educating them that they aren't alone,” said Rowe Hudson, a certified diabetes educator.

That feeling of being the only one with diabetes is common after patients are diagnosed but Hudson is using the sessions to remind everyone that diabetes is treatable.

“I would tell you that 95 percent of the care for diabetes is done by the patient at home because there is only so much a doctor or nurse can do but by doing the day-to-day preventative measures then you don't have to worry about the complications associated with diabetes,” said Hudson who is coordinating the event for the Lee Memorial Health Systems.

The center decided to offer the program in Bonita Springs to address patients who would normally have to drive down to Naples or up to Fort Myers for the classes.

Complications from diabetes can range from eye problems that lead to blindness, kidney failure, nerve problems or even heart attacks but, Hudson said, those are preventable and it’s nothing patients should worry about.

“We do our sessions as lectures mostly and people are able to ask what they want as we go. But I'll tell you that there are some that come on the first day angry because they feel there is no hope,” said Hudson, who is a registered dietitian and has been with the diabetes center for more than a year.

“By the third day they are happy and understanding that they aren't necessarily going to have complications and that through the class they have met a network of people they can call.”

The classes require pre-registration but are covered by most insurance plans and Medicare. Individual appointments after the three-day sessions are complete are also available with a certified diabetes educator.

“We require patients to being in a doctor's referral and encourage everyone to bring a family member because two heads are better than one,” Hudson said. “We cover a lot of information so we definitely want patients to have family there to help absorb it all.”

During the session, patients will also be able to keep the blood glucose meter that they can later use to control their diabetes.

“It's a class to teach people how to control their disease and come together as a close knit group,” Hudson said. “Just register with us and we will get you back on track and in control of patients' diabetes.”